Listening to the Holy Spirit:
Come, that you might find rest. Labor begins for man, and ceases not until the first death, but he that runs continuously cannot sustain. Follow My lead as you are called. Rest on the seventh day. Six you shall labor and the seventh you shall set aside that your life would be whole. He who does not rest spends what is not his and receives not what he needs. Come close in praise, in thanksgiving of the week received, of the work given of My provision. You need not labor as the slave. Take that of which I give, that you would receive what is needed. Obey, and the blessing of rest will pay far greater than the wage of work. For in it you, and those given also to you, will know its rest and peace. Hear the commandment, and know its provision; it gives far greater than it removes.
Exodus 34:21 (ESV) – Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.
Taking It to Work:
Today we address the bad idea of the seven day workweek, which many of us have.
Here’s a little history. Beginning in the early 300s, just three centuries after Jesus walked the earth, the Holy Day to rest and honor to the Lord was changed from the Jewish sabbath, Saturday, to what was made official in the Laodicea Council in 354 to be Sunday. It was a Christian holy day, set apart for faith and family, where no one was expected to work. It was not mandatory that you couldnt work, like the Jewish sabbath, but for centuries and centuries, most people worked six days a week, and if you were Christian, Sunday was your day of rest and worship.
Now fast forward to 16 centuries to the early 1900s, and to give similar rights to the Jewish population, Saturday was also given off from work so they could celebrate their sabbath. Thus, adding this to the Sunday Christian holy day, gave rise to our modern weekend. Sunday is still the primary day that Christians stop their work, rest and honor God, but in the last fifty years this also has changed. I remember when I was a boy, everything was closed on Sunday, but no more. Many Christians chose or must work on Sundays, so how do we apply our scripture today from Exodus 34? Well, before Constantine, who initiated Sunday as the Christian holy day, and before the Council of Laodicea made it official, God himself had some guidance…don’t work 7 days a week. Work six, and make sure you rest on the seventh.
Biblically, I don’t believe the actual day matters, but one day should be held aside for rest and worship. It was a command back in Moses’ day, but in our crazy fast-paced world, its likely even more necessary. God gave us all His commands to help us live happy, functional and holy lives. So, if your a seven day a week workaholic, try it God’s way, break a day free for rest, family and worship…Hopefully Sunday, so you can attend church with fellow believers, and let His guidance on rest, and His Word, renew you this coming weekend.
